Electronic device and method of processing message in electronic device

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatuses are provided for processing a message in an electronic device. An electronic device includes a communication module; a memory configured to store messages received or transmitted by the communication module; a touch screen configured to display the received or transmitted messages; and a processor coupled to the memory, the touch screen, and the communication module, the processor configured to obtain, via the communication module, a first message associated with a first message application, obtain, via the communication module, a second message associated with a second message application, control the touch screen to display the obtained first message on a message display window, and control the touch screen to display the obtained second message adjacent to the obtained first message on the message display window.

PRIORITY

This application is Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/638,414, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office onMar. 4, 2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,923,848 on Mar. 20, 2018, andclaims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Korean Application SerialNo. 10-2014-0051663, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice on Apr. 29, 2014, the content of each of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an electronic device and amethod of processing a message, and more particularly, to an electronicdevice and a method of transmitting a message to and receiving a messagefrom the same interlocutor by using a plurality of message processingmanners.

2. Description of the Related Art

A message application generally supports only one message type. When anelectronic device supports a plurality of message reception andtransmission techniques, a chat room may be formed according to amessage technique supported by each of the message applications.

When a plurality of contact media with respect to the same interlocutorare stored in the electronic device, a plurality of chat rooms areformed according to the plurality of contact media, despite the factthat they have the same interlocutor.

For example, when address information and a plurality of telephonenumbers are stored in the electronic device for a specific buddy, andthe same buddy is the same user simultaneously using an Instant Message(IM) application and a Short Message Service/Multimedia MessagingService (SMS/MMS) application, a chat room of the IM application may begenerated according to the address information and a plurality of chatrooms of the SMS/MMS application may be generated according to theplurality of telephone numbers. When a plurality of chat rooms aregenerated, although the chat rooms are logically for the sameinterlocutor, a context and a consistency of a conversation areindividually managed in each of the chat rooms according to a messagemanner or a contact medium, and thus it is difficult to grasp context.

In addition, in order to grasp the whole context of a conversation withthe same interlocutor, each of the plurality of chat rooms should bechecked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to address at least the aboveproblems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantagesdescribed below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present inventionprovides an electronic device and a method of processing a message of anelectronic device capable of receiving a message from and transmitting amessage to the same interlocutor by using a plurality of messageprocessing manners.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an electronic device isprovided, which includes a communication module; a memory configured tostore messages received or transmitted by the communication module; atouch screen configured to display the received or transmitted messages;and a processor coupled to the memory, the touch screen, and thecommunication module. The processor is configured to obtain, via thecommunication module, a first message associated with a first messageapplication, obtain, via the communication module, a second messageassociated with a second message application, control the touch screento display the obtained first message on a message display window, andcontrol the touch screen to display the obtained second message adjacentto the obtained first message on the message display window.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method isprovided for processing a message in an electronic device. The methodincludes obtaining, via a communication module, a first messageassociated with a first message application; obtaining, via thecommunication module, a second message associated with a second messageapplication; controlling a touch screen to display the obtained firstmessage on a message display window; and controlling the touch screen todisplay the obtained second message adjacent to the obtained firstmessage on the message display window.

According to an additional aspect of the present invention, an articleof manufacture is provided for processing a message in an electronicdevice, including a non-transitory machine readable medium containingone or more programs, which when executed, implement the steps ofobtaining a first message by a first message application; obtaining asecond message by a second message application; and displaying the firstmessage and the second message on a message display window. The firstmessage application is different from the second message application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network environment including anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a message application unit of theelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the message processingoperation in the electronic device, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the message processingoperation in the electronic device, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B are diagrams illustrating the messageprocessing operation in the electronic device, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar componentsmay be designated by the same or similar reference numerals althoughthey are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions ofconstructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoidobscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the terms “include” or “may include”, which may be used invarious embodiments of the present invention, refer to the presence offunctions, operations, or elements, and do not restrict the inclusion ofadditional functions, operations, or elements. Further, as used invarious embodiments of the present invention, the terms “include”,“have”, and their conjugates may be construed to denote a certaincharacteristic, number, step, operation, constituent element, component,or a combination thereof, but may not be construed to exclude theexistence of or a possibility of additional characteristics, numbers,steps, operations, constituent elements, components, or combinationsthereof.

The term “or” used in various embodiments of the present inventionincludes any or all of combinations of listed words. For example, theexpression “A or B” may include A, B, or both A and B.

The expression “1”, “2”, “first”, or “second” used in variousembodiments of the present invention may modify various components ofvarious embodiments but does not limit the corresponding components. Forexample, the above expressions do not limit the sequence and/orimportance of the corresponding constituent elements. The expressionsmay be used to distinguish a component element from another componentelement. For example, a first user device and a second user deviceindicate different user devices although both of them are user devices.Additionally, without departing from the scope of the present invention,a first component element may be named a second component element.Similarly, the second component element also may be named the firstcomponent element.

It should be noted that if it is described that one component element is“coupled” or “connected” to another component element, the firstcomponent element may be directly coupled or connected to the secondcomponent element, and a third component element may be “coupled” or“connected” between the first and second component elements. Conversely,when one component element is “directly coupled” or “directly connected”to another component element, it may be construed that a third componentelement does not exist between the first component element and thesecond component element.

The terms used in various embodiments of the present invention aremerely used to describe a certain embodiment and should not limitvarious embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, thesingular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless defined differently, all terms used herein, which includetechnical terminologies or scientific terminologies, have the samemeaning as those recognized by a person skilled in the art to which thepresent invention belongs. Such terms as those defined in a generallyused dictionary are to be interpreted to have the meanings equal to thecontextual meanings in the relevant field of art, and are not to beinterpreted to have ideal or excessively formal meanings unless clearlydefined herein.

An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay be a device that includes a biometric function. For example, theelectronic device may be embodied as at least one of a smart phone, atablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-bookreader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), an MP3player, a mobile medical device, a camera, a wearable device {e.g., ahead-mounted-device (HMD) such as electronic glasses}, electronicclothes, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, an electronicappcessory, an electronic tattoo, or a smart watch.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronicdevice may be embodied as a smart home appliance with a communicationfunction. The smart home appliance may include at least one of, forexample, a television, a Digital Video Disk (DVD) player, an audiosystem, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, amicrowave oven, a washing machine, an air cleaner, a set-top box, a TVbox, a game console, an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, acamcorder, and an electronic picture frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronicdevice may be embodied as a medical device (for example, a magneticresonance angiography (MRA) scanner, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)scanner, a computed tomography (CT) scanner, a scanner, anultrasonograph, or the like), a navigation device, a Global PositioningSystem (GPS) receiver, an Event Data Recorder (EDR), a Flight DataRecorder (FDR), a vehicle infotainment device, electronic equipment forship (for example, a ship navigation device and gyro-compass and thelike), avionics, a security device, a head unit for vehicle, anindustrial or household robot, an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) inbanking facilities, or a Point Of Sales (POS) in stores.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the electronicdevice may be embodied as furniture, a part of a building/structurehaving a communication function, an electronic board, an electronicsignature receiving device, a projector, or various measuring equipment(e.g., equipment for a water supply, electricity, gas, or radio waves).An electronic device, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, may be a combination of one or more of above describeddevices. Also, an electronic device, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, may be a flexible device. Also, an electronic device,according to an embodiment of the present invention, is not limited tothe above described devices.

Hereinafter, an electronic device, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, is described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. The term “user” may refer to a person who uses an electronicdevice or a device (for example, an artificial intelligence electronicdevice) that uses an electronic device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network environment 100 including anelectronic device 101, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic device 101 includes a bus110, a processor 120, a memory 130, an input/output interface 140, adisplay 150, a communication interface 160, and a message processingmodule 170.

The bus 110 is a circuit connecting the aforementioned elements andtransmitting communication (e.g., a control message) between theaforementioned elements.

For example, the processor 120 receives instructions from theaforementioned other elements (e.g., the memory 130, the input/outputinterface 140, the display 150, the communication interface 160, and themessage processing module 170) through the bus 110, deciphers thereceived instructions, and performs calculation or data processingaccording to the deciphered instructions.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the processor 120controls the message processing module 170 to execute a plurality ofmessage applications included in the message processing module 170. Theprocessor 120 executes a first message application so as to display, ina combined message display window of an interlocutor, a first messageand a second message that are received and/or transmitted through thefirst message application and a second message application,respectively, which have different message reception and transmissiontechniques. In addition, while the first message application isexecuted, the processor 120 executes a second message application so asto provide the second message to the first message application.

The memory 130 stores instructions or data received from or created bythe processor 120 or other elements (e.g., the input/output interface140, the display 150, the communication interface 160, and the messageprocessing module 170). The memory 130 includes programming modules, forexample, a kernel 131, a middleware 133, an Application ProgrammingInterface (API) 134, and applications 134. Each of the programmingmodules described above may be configured by software, firmware,hardware, or combinations of two or more thereof.

The kernel 131 controls or manages system resources (e.g., the bus 110,the processor 120, or the memory 130) used for executing an operation ora function implemented in the other remaining programming modules, forexample, the middleware 132, the API 133, or the applications 134. Thekernel 131 also provides an interface capable of accessing andcontrolling or managing the individual elements of the electronic device101 by using the middleware 132, the API 133, or the applications 134.

The middleware 132 performs a relay function of allowing the API 133 orthe applications 134 to exchange data by communicating with the kernel131. Furthermore, in regard to task requests received from theapplications 134, the middleware 132 performs a control (e.g., ascheduling or a load balancing) for the task requests using, forexample, a method of assigning a priority for using the system resources(e.g., the bus 110, the processor 120, and the memory 130) of theelectronic device 101 to at least one of the applications 134.

The API 133 is an interface through which the applications 134 maycontrol functions provided by the kernel 131 or the middleware 132, andincludes at least one interface or function (e.g., an instruction) forfile control, window control, image processing, or text control.

The applications 134 may include an SMS/MMS application, an InstantMessage (IM) application, an e-mail application, a calendar application,an alarm application, a health care application, an environmentalinformation application, etc. Additionally or alternately, theapplications 134 may be related to an information exchange between theelectronic device 101 and an external electronic device (e.g., anelectronic device 104). The application related to the informationexchange may include, for example, a notification relay application fortransferring specific information to the external electronic device or adevice management application for managing the external electronicdevice.

For example, the notification relay application may include a functionof transferring, to the external electronic device (e.g., the electronicdevice 104), notification information generated from other applicationsof the electronic device 101 (e.g., an SMS/MMS application, an e-mailapplication, and the like). Additionally or alternatively, thenotification relay application may receive the notification informationfrom, for example, the external electronic device (e.g., the electronicdevice 104), and may provide the received notification information to auser. The device management application may manage (e.g., install,delete, or update), for example, a function (e.g., turning on/off theexternal electronic device itself (or some elements thereof) oradjusting brightness (or resolution) of a display) for at least a partof the external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 104)communicating with the electronic device 101, applications operating inthe external electronic device, or services (e.g., a telephone callservice or a message service) provided from the external electronicdevice.

The applications 134 may include an application designated according toa property (e.g., a kind of the electronic device) of the externalelectronic device (e.g., the electronic device 104). For example, whenthe external electronic device is an MP3 player, the applications 134may include an application related to reproduction of music. Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the applications 134 mayinclude at least one of an application designated to the electronicdevice 101 and an application received from the external electronicdevice (e.g., a server 106 or the electronic device 104).

The input/output interface 140 transfers an instruction or data inputfrom a user through an input/output device (e.g., a sensor, a keyboard,a communication module (e.g., a BT module and a WiFi module) or a touchscreen) to the processor 120, the memory 130, the communicationinterface 160, or the message processing module 170 through, forexample, the bus 110. Furthermore, the input/output interface 140 mayoutput instructions or data received from the processor 120, the memory130, the communication interface 160, or the message processing module170 through, for example, the bus 110. Here, the input/output interface140 may output the instructions and data through the input/output device(e.g., a speaker or a display).

The display 150 displays various pieces of information (e.g., multimediadata or text data) to a user.

The communication interface 160 communicatively connects the electronicdevice 101 and the external electronic device (e.g., the electronicdevice 104 or the server 106). For example, the communication interface160 is connected to a network 162 through a wireless communication or awired communication to communicate with the external device. Thewireless communication may include at least one of, for example, Wi-Fi,a Bluetooth (BT), Near Field Communication (NFC), a Global PositioningSystem (GPS), and cellular communication (e.g., Long Term Evolution(LTE), LTE-A, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA(WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), WirelessBroadband (WiBro), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), or thelike). The wired communication may include at least one of, for example,a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a High Definition Multimedia Interface(HDMI), a Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232), and a Plain Old TelephoneService (POTS).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the network 162 maybe embodied as a telecommunication network. The communication networksmay include at least one of a computer network, the Internet, or atelephone network. According to an embodiment, a protocol (e.g., atransport layer protocol, a data link layer protocol, or a physicallayer protocol) for communication between the electronic device 101 andthe external device may be supported by at least one of the applications134, the API 133, the middleware 132, the kernel 131, and thecommunication interface 160.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the messageprocessing module 170 may be functionally connected to another element(e.g., the processor 120, the memory 130, the input/output interface140, the communication interface 160, or the like) to obtain a status(e.g., an attached or detached status of the electronic device to theuser) of the electronic device. In addition, the message processingmodule 170 may independently control a plurality of input/output devices(e.g., a sensor, a touch panel, a microphone, a speaker, a display, orthe like) through, for example, the input/output interface 140, based onthe status of the electronic device. The message processing module 170is described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 13.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a block diagram of the messageprocessing module 170 in the electronic device (e.g., the electronicdevice 101), according to an embodiment of the present invention. Themessage processing module 170 includes at least one message applicationamong various application modules included in the applications 134. Forexample, the message processing module 170 may separately include anSMS/MMS application, an IM application, an email application, and thelike.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the messageprocessing module 170 includes a first message application and thesecond message application, which have different message reception andtransmission techniques. The first message application is exemplified asthe IM application, and the second message application is exemplified asthe SMS/MMS application. However, the first message application and thesecond message application are not limited to the IM application and theSMS/MMS application, respectively. Referring to FIG. 2, the messageprocessing module 170 includes the IM application 200 and the SMS/MMSapplication 250.

When the IM application is executed, the IM application 200 displays, ina combined message display window of a selected interlocutor, an InstantMessaging (IM) message received and/or transmitted through the IMapplication and an SMS/MMS message provided from the SMS/MMS application250, which has a reception and transmission technique that differs fromthat of the IM application 200. The IM application 200 detects the IMreceived and/or transmitted with first contact information among aplurality of contact information of the interlocutor, receives a secondmessage received and/or transmitted with second contact informationamong the plurality of contact information of the interlocutor using theSMS/MMS application, and displays the first message and the secondmessage in the combined message display window of the interlocutoraccording to a received and transmitted time sequence. The IMapplication 200 includes an IM transmit module 201, an IM DB 202, amessage reception processing module 203, a message transmissionprocessing module 204, and a message display processing module 205.

The IM transmit module 201 receives and/or transmits the IM usingaddress information of the interlocutor.

The IM DB 202 stores a plurality of interlocutors, and a plurality ofcontact information, including at least one of first contact informationfor receiving and/or transmitting the IM and second contact informationfor receiving and/or transmitting the SMS/MMS message for each of theplurality of interlocutors. In an embodiment of the present invention,the plurality of contact information includes at least one of addressinformation, at least one telephone number, and an email address. Thefirst contact information for receiving and/or transmitting the IM maybe exemplified as the address information, and the second contactinformation for receiving and/or transmitting the SMS/MMS message may beexemplified as the at least one telephone number. The IM DM 202 alsostores the received and/or transmitted IM.

While the IM application is executed, when an interlocutor selectedamong the plurality of interlocutors has the plurality of contactinformation, the message reception processing module 203 displays thecombined message display window (e.g., a chat room). The messagereception processing module 203 requests and receives the IM, which ispreviously received and/or transmitted with the address information ofthe interlocutor, among the IM stored in the IM DB 202. The messagereception processing module 203 also requests the SMS/MMS messagepreviously received and/or transmitted with the at least one telephonenumber of the interlocutor from an SMS/MMS DB 252 of the SMS/MMSapplication 250. The message reception processing module 203 combinesthe previously received and/or transmitted IM e and the previouslyreceived and/or transmitted SMS/MMS message, arranges the previouslyreceived and/or transmitted IM and the previously received and/ortransmitted SMS/MMS message according to a received and transmitted timesequence, and displays the arranged IM and SMS/MMS message in thecombined message display window through the message display processingmodule 205. When the plurality of contact information are included inthe contact information of the interlocutor, the message receptionprocessing module 203 displays a type of each of a plurality of messagereception and transmission techniques in the display 150, and displays amessage reception and transmission technique selected for the combinedmessage display window of the interlocutor. When a message displaywindow list viewing is selected while the IM application is executed,the message reception processing module 203 arranges and displays amessage display window list including at least one of a general messagedisplay window and a combined message display window, according to amessage reception and transmission time sequence. The message receptionprocessing module 203 may distinguish the general message display windowand the combined message display window. The general message displaywindow includes the address information for receiving and/ortransmitting the IM to the contact information of the interlocutor. Thecombined message display window includes the address information forreceiving and/or transmitting the IM to the contact information of theinterlocutor and at least one telephone number for receiving and/ortransmitting the SMS/MMS message.

The message reception processing module 203 may separately distinguish afirst combined message display window and a second combined messagedisplay window of the combined message display window. The firstcombined message display window displays the last received and/ortransmitted IM, and the second combined message display window displaysthe last received and/or transmitted SMS/MMS message.

When the combined message display window is selected from the messagedisplay window list, the message reception processing module 203identifies multiple pieces of contact information of interlocutorscorresponding to the selected combined message display window to receivea previous IM received and/or transmitted with the address informationfrom the IM DB 202 and to receive a previous SMS/MMS message receivedand/or transmitted with at least one telephone number from the SMS/MMSDB 252 of the SMS/MMS application 250. Also, the message receptionprocessing module 203 combines, arranges, and displays the IM and theSMS/MMS messages on the combined message display window of theinterlocutor. A logic for arranging the IM and the SMS/MMS messages mayhave various configurations, such as, for example, a time sequence, aninverse of time, or the like.

The message reception processing module 203 continuously monitors theSMS/MMS DB 252 while the IM application is executed. Therefore, when anew SMS/MMS message is received through an SMS/MMS transmission module251 of the SMS/MMS application 250 and stored in the SMS/MMS DB 252while the message reception processing module 203 displays the messagedisplay window list, the message reception processing module 203receives the newly received SMS/MMS message by requesting the newlyreceived SMS/MMS message from the SMS/MMS DB 252. In addition, themessage reception processing module 203 may change a position of thecombined message display window, corresponding to a sender of the newlyreceived SMS/MMS message, in the message display window list. Forexample, the message reception processing module 203 may shift thecombined message display window so that it is displayed at the top orbottom of the message display window list, and may display the combinedmessage display window so as to separate the newly received SMS/MMSmessage.

The message reception processing module 203 may display the IM or theSMS message at the combined message display window, regardless of atransmission technique of the message, while a transmission operation isperformed through a transmission technique of the IM or the SMS/MMS.

When the message reception processing module 203 transmits a messagewritten in the transmission technique of the IM while the messagereception processing module 203 displays the combined message displaywindow, and the message reception processing module 203 receivesinformation informing that the transmission to the interlocutor isimpossible, the message reception processing module 203 may inform ofthe impossibility of the transmission of the IM and may display amessage recommending transmission using the SMS/MMS. When a deletion ofa second message displayed in the combined message display window isselected, the message reception processing module 203 may delete theselected second message by submitting a request for deletion of theselected second message to the SMS/MMS DB 252.

When the second contact information of the selected interlocutorincludes a plurality of telephone numbers, the message receptionprocessing module 203 may receive and display only a predetermineddefault telephone number from the SMS/MMS DB 252. In addition, when anew SMS/MMS message is received while the electronic device 101 is in astandby mode, the message reception processing module 203 informs of thereception of the new SMS/MMS message through the IM application. Forexample, the reception processing module 203 may display an icon forinforming of the reception of the new SMS/MMS message with an icon ofthe IM application in a standby screen, or may display the icon forinforming of the reception of the new SMS/MMS message in an indicationarea of the standby screen in a type of the IM application.Alternatively, when the icon informing of the reception of the newSMS/MMS message is displayed in the indication area of the standbyscreen in a type of the SMS/MMS application, and the icon is selected,the IM application is executed and the new SMS/MMS message may beconfirmed.

When the transmission technique of the IM is selected, while thecombined message display window is displayed, the message transmissionprocessing module 204 transmits the written message as an IM through theIM transmission module 201. In addition, when the transmission techniqueof the SMS/MMS is selected, while the combined message display window isdisplayed, the message transmission processing module 204 transmits thewritten message as an SMS/MMS message through the SMS/MMS transmissionmodule 251.

The message display processing module 205 displays the IM received fromthe message reception processing module 203 in the general messagedisplay window while the IM application is executed. In addition, themessage display processing module 205 displays the IM or the SMS/MMSmessage received from the message reception processing module 203 in theSMS/MMS combined message display window while the IM application isexecuted. The combined message display window may include a view grouphaving a plurality of views. The view may include predetermined firstand second view types. The first view type may be for the IM and thesecond view type may be for the SMS/MMS message. The second view typefor the SMS/MMS message may be the same as that of the received and/ortransmitted SMS/MMS message displayed in the SMS/MMS message displaywindow of the SMS/MMS application. Therefore, when the IM is receivedfrom the message reception processing module 203 at the message displayprocessing module 205, the message display processing module 205 maydisplay the IM in the combined message display window as the first viewtype for the IM. In addition, when the SMS/MMS message is received fromthe message reception processing module 203 at the message displayprocessing module 205, the message display processing module 205 maydisplay the SMS/MMS message in the combined message display window asthe first view type for the SMS/MMS. In addition, the message displayprocessing module 205 may display information such as, for example, aplurality of buddy lists, a message display window list, types ofmessage reception and transmission techniques, and the like in thedisplay 150 while the IM application is executed, according to a requestof the message reception processing module 203.

The message reception and transmission technique of the SMS/MMSapplication 250 is different from that of the IM application, whichreceives and transmits the message by using an internet. However, theSMS/MMS application 250 may provide the SMS/MMS to the IM application200 while the IM application is executed. The SMS/MMS application 250includes the SMS/MMS transmission module 251 and the SMS/MMS DB 252. TheSMS/MMS transmission module 251 transmits the SMS/MMS message receivedby the message transmission processing module 204 while the IMapplication is executed. The SMS/MMS DB 252 stores the received SMS/MMSmessage in the SMS/MMS DB 252 while the IM application is executed. TheSMS/MMS DB 252 provides the stored SMS/MMS message to the messagereception processing module 203 of the IM application 200. In addition,the SMS/MMS DB 252 stores the SMS/MMS message received by the messagetransmission processing module 204. A module forming the first messageapplication (i.e., the WI application 200) and a module forming thesecond message application (i.e. the SMS/MMS application 250), bothincluded in the message processing module 170 of FIG. 1, may beconfigured in the same manner when included in the application 134.

An operation of processing the message by using the message processingmodule 170 shown in FIG. 1 is described in greater detail below withreference to FIGS. 3 to 13.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the message processingoperation in the electronic device, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the IM application is executed, in step 301. The IMapplication 200 determines whether an interlocutor is selected by theuser from among a plurality of contact information (e.g., the buddylist), in step 303. When the interlocutor is selected by the user, theIM application determine whether there is a plurality of contactinformation with respect to the selected interlocutor, in step 305. Whenthe IM application 200 determines that there is not a plurality ofcontact information, a corresponding function is executed, in step 306.When the IM application 200 determines that there is a plurality ofcontact information with respect to the selected interlocutor, the IMapplication 200 displays the types of message transmission techniquesthat correspond to the plurality of contact information, in step 307.For example, when the plurality of contact information include addressinformation and first and second telephone numbers, the types of messagereception and transmission techniques include IM using the addressnumber, SMS/MMS using the first telephone number, and SMS/MMS using thesecond telephone number.

In step 309, it is determined whether a message transmission andreception technique is selected from among the types of techniques. Whenthe message reception and transmission technique is selected, the IMapplication 200 displays the selected interlocutor and the combinedmessage display window, which is already generated. Alternatively, whenthere is no combined message display window of the selectedinterlocutor, a new combined message display window is generated anddisplayed. The IM application 200 receives the IM previously receivedand/or transmitted with the address information of the interlocutor byrequesting it from the IM DB 202, in step 311. In addition, the IMapplication 200 receives the SMS/MMS message previously received and/ortransmitted with the plurality of telephone numbers of the interlocutorby requesting it from the SMS/MMS DB 252, in step 311. Further, the IMapplication 200 arranges the IM provided from the IM DB 202 and theSMS/MMS message provided from the SMS/MMS DB 252, according to thereceived and transmitted time sequence after combining the IM and theSMS/MMS, in step 311. The IM application 200 displays the arranged IMand SMS/MMS messages in the combined message display window, in step313. The IM application 200 may separately display the IM and theSMS/MMS messages.

In step 315, it is determined whether the transmission of a messagewritten by a user is requested. When the transmission is requested, theIM application displays the written message in the combined messagedisplay window, and simultaneously transmits the written message in themessage reception and transmission technique selected in step 309, instep 317.

The operations of FIG. 3 are described below with reference to FIGS. 4Aand 4B. As shown in FIG. 4A, the interlocutor AAA is selected while theIM application is executed and the plurality of contact information of a“Buddy List” is displayed by the request of the user. The IM application200 displays a plurality of message transmission techniques, namely,SMS/MMS 010-1111-1111, SMS/MMS 010-2222-2222 and IM AAA@xxx.com, whichcorrespond to a plurality of contact information 010-1111-1111,010-2222-2222 and AAA@xxx.com of the interlocutor. In addition, when thetransmission techniques of the IM is selected, the IM application 200displays a combined message display window of the interlocutor AAA asshown FIG. 4B. The IM application 200 displays an IM previously receivedand/or transmitted with the IM address information AAA@xxx.com providedfrom the IM DB 202, and an SMS/MMS message previously received and/ortransmitted with the first telephone number 010-1111-1111 and the secondnumber 010-2222-2222, respectively, provided from the SMS/MMS DB 252,according to the time sequence. The IM application 2200 displays “IM”which is the transmission technique selected in FIG. 4A in atransmission technique informing unit 403 informing of the transmissiontechnique. When a transmission 402 is selected after the user writes amessage in an input section 401 of the combined message display window,the IM application 200 transmits the message written in the inputsection 401 to the interlocutor AAA through the IM transmission module201.

In FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, when the second contact information among theplurality of contact information includes a plurality of telephonenumbers, the SMS/MMS messages corresponding to the plurality oftelephone numbers are provided and displayed in the combined messagedisplay window of the interlocutor. However, only an SMS/MMS messagereceived and/or transmitted through a predetermined telephone number ora telephone number selected by the user among the plurality of telephonenumbers may be displayed in the combined message display window.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the message processingoperation in the electronic device, according to the embodiment of thepresent invention illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the IM application is executed, in step 501. Instep 503, it is determined whether message display window list viewingis selected by the user. When the message display window list (e.g., achat room list) viewing is selected, the IM application 200 determineswhether the combined message display window is included in the messagedisplay window list, in step 505. When the combined message displaywindow is not included, a corresponding function is executed, in step506. When the combined message display window is included in the messagedisplay window list, the IM application 200 determines whether a secondcombined message display window, in which the last SMS/MMS message isdisplayed, is included in the combined message display window, in step507. When the second combined message window is not included, the IMapplication 200 proceeds to step 513, as described in greater detailbelow.

When the second combined message window is included, the IM applicationrequests and receives the last received and/or transmitted SMS/MMSmessage with the second contact information (i.e., at least onetelephone number) of the interlocutor from the SMS/MMS DB 252, in step509. The IM application 200 displays the message display window listincluding the general message display window and the combined messagedisplay window, in step 511. The general message display window includesonly the first contact information (i.e., the IM address information) inthe contact information of the interlocutor, and the combined messagedisplay window includes the first contact information (i.e., the IMaddress information) and the second contact information (i.e., at leastone telephone number) in the contact information of the interlocutor.

The second combined message display window displays the last receivedand/or transmitted SMS/MMS message. The IM application 200 displays thelast received and/or transmitted IM provided from the IM DB 202 in thegeneral message display window and the first combined message displaywindow, in step 511. In addition, the IM application 200 arranges anddisplays the general message display window and the combined messagedisplay window in the message display window list according to areceived and transmitted time sequence, in step 511. The IM application200 may separately display the general message display window and thecombined message display window, in step 511. In addition, the IMapplication 200 may separately display the first combined messagedisplay window and the second combined message display window, in step511.

In step 513, it is determined whether the combined message displaywindow is selected. When the combined message display window isselected, the IM application 200 displays the selected combined messagedisplay window, in step 515. The IM application 200 receives thepreviously received and/or transmitted IM with the first contactinformation (i.e., the IM address information) of the interlocutordisplayed in the selected combined message display window, by requestingthe previously received and/or transmitted IM from the IM DB 202. Inaddition, the IM application 200 receives the previously received and/ortransmitted SMS/MMS message with the second contact information (i.e.,the at least one telephone number) of the interlocutor displayed in theselected combined message display window, by requesting the previouslyreceived and/or transmitted SMS/MMS message from the SMS/MMS DB 252.Further, the IM application 200 arranges the IM provided from the IM DB202 and the SMS/MMS message provided from the SMS/MMS DB 252 accordingto the received and transmitted time sequence after combining the IM andSMS/MMS messages, in step 515. The IM application 200 displays thearranged IM and SMS/MMS messages in the combined message display window,in step 517. The IM application 200 may separately display the IM andSMS/MMS messages.

Hereinafter, the operations of FIG. 5 are described with reference toFIGS. 6A and 6B. While the IM application is executed, when messagedisplay window list viewing (e.g., chat room) 610 is selected, the IMapplication 200 displays a message display window list including aplurality of message display windows 601 to 607, as shown in FIG. 6A.The IM application 200 displays the combined message display windows601, 602, 604, 606 and 607 as distinguished from the general messagedisplay windows 603 and 60 by displaying an icon “*” in the combinedmessage display windows 601, 602, 604, 606 and 607 in the messagedisplay window list. The interlocutor of the combined message displaywindows 601, 602, 604, 606 and 607 have the first contact information(i.e., the IM address information) and the second contact information(i.e., at least one telephone number), and the interlocutor of thegeneral message display windows 603 and 605 has only the first contactinformation (i.e., the IM address information). In addition, the IMapplication 200 displays the second combined message display windows 601and 604 as distinguished from the first combined message display windows602, 606 and 607 by displaying an icon having a letter shape in thesecond combined message display windows 601 and 604 among the combinedmessage display windows 601, 602, 604, 606 and 607 in the messagedisplay window list. The first combined message display windows displaya last received and/or transmitted IM, and the second combined messagedisplay window displays a last received and/or transmitted SMS/MMSmessage. The IM application 200 displays content of the last transmittedSMS/MMS message provided from the SMS/MMS DB 252 in the second combinedmessage display window 601 of the interlocutor AAA in the messagedisplay window list. In addition, the IM application 200 displayscontent of the last received SMS/MMS message provided from the SMS/MMSDB 252 in the second combined message display window 604 of theinterlocutor DDD in the message display window list.

When the second combined message display window 601 of the interlocutorAAA is selected by the user from the message display window list, the IMapplication 200 arranges and displays the previously received and/ortransmitted IM with the first contact information (i.e., the IM addressinformation) of the interlocutor AAA and the previously received and/ortransmitted SMS/MMS message with the second contact information (i.e. atleast one of telephone numbers 010-111-1111 and 010-222-2222) of theinterlocutor AAA in the combined message display window according to thetime sequence, as shown in FIG. 6B. The IM application 200 displayscontent of the last transmitted SMS/MMS message in the combined messagedisplay window, as shown in FIG. 6B. In addition, the IM application 200displays a current transmission technique by displaying “SMS/MMS”, whichis the last used transmission technique, in a transmission techniqueinforming section 620, which informs of the transmission technique.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the message processing operation in theelectronic device, according to the embodiment of the present inventionillustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, the IM application is executed, in step 701. Instep 703, it is determined whether a message display window list viewing(e.g., chat room) is selected. When the message display window listviewing is selected by the user, the IM application 200 determineswhether the combined message display window is included in the messagedisplay window list, in step 705. When the combined message displaywindow is not included, a corresponding function is executed, in step706. When the IM application 200 determines that the combined messagedisplay window in which the interlocutor has the first contactinformation (i.e., the IM address information) and the second contactinformation (i.e., at least one telephone number) is included in themessage display window list, the IM application 200 displays the messagedisplay window list in which the general message display window havingonly the first contact information (i.e., the IM address information) ofthe interlocutor and the combined message window having the firstcontact information and the second contact information are arrangedaccording to the time sequence, in step 707. While the message displaywindow list is displayed, it is determined whether an SMS/MMS message isreceived in step 709. When the SMS/MMS message is received through theSMS/MMS transmission module 251 and stored in the SMS/MMS DB 252, the IMapplication continuously monitoring the SMS/MMS DB 252 requests andreceives the SMS/MMS message from the SMS/MMS DB 2252. When the newSMS/MMS message is received from the SMS/MMS DB 252, the IM application200 determines a position of the combined message display windowcorresponding to a sender of the newly received SMS/MMS message in themessage display window list. The IM application 200 shifts the positionof the determined combined message display window to the top or thebottom of the message display window list and displays the combinedmessage display window, in step 711. Alternatively, when the combinedmessage corresponding to the sender of the newly received SMS/MMSmessage is not included in the message display window list, the IMapplication 200 generates a new combined message display window, shiftsthe newly generated combined message display window to the top or thebottom of the message display window list, and displays the newlygenerated combined message display window.

Hereinafter, the operations of the FIG. 7 are described with referenceto FIG. 8. The IM application is executed and the message display windowlist, including the general message display window and the combinedmessage display window, is displayed as shown in FIG. 6A. When the newSMS/MMS message is received from the interlocutor DDD, the IMapplication shifts the combined message display window 604 of theinterlocutor DDD to the top of the message display window list, anddisplays the combined message display window 604.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating describing themessage processing operation in the electronic device, according to theembodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 9, the IM application is executed, in step 901. The IMapplication 200 displays the combined message display window of theinterlocutor selected from among the plurality of contact information(i.e., the buddy list) or the combined message display window selectedfrom among the message display window list (i.e., the chat room), instep 903.

While the combined message display window is displayed, it is determinedwhether the SMS/MMS transmission technique is selected through thecombined message display window in step 905. When the transmissiontechnique of the SMS/MMS is selected, the IM application may change themessage transmission technique to the SMS/MMS. After the messagetransmission technique is changed and set to the SMS/MMS, it isdetermined whether transmission of a written message is requested, instep 907. When the transmission of the written message is requested, theIM application displays the written message in the combined messagedisplay window, simultaneously transmits the written message to theSMS/MMS DB 252 for storage, and transmits the written message to theSMS/MMS transmission module 251 for transmission as an SMS/MMS message,in step 909.

When the transmission technique of the SMS/MMS is not selected, it isdetermined whether the transmission technique of the IM is selectedthrough the combined message display window, in step 911. When thetransmission technique of the IM is selected, the IM application maychange the message transmission technique to the IM. After the messagetransmission technique is changed and set to the IM, it is determinedwhether transmission of a written message is requested, in step 913.When the transmission of the written message is requested, the IMapplication displays the written message in the combined message displaywindow, simultaneously transmits the written message to the IM DB 202for storage, and transmits the written message to the IM transmissionmodule 201 for transmission as an IM, in step 915.

The user may freely select a desirable transmission technique for themessage in the combined message display window, as described above, totransmit the message.

Hereinafter, the operations of the FIG. 9 are described with referenceto FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B. Firstly, referring to FIGS. 10A and10B, when the interlocutor AAA is selected while the IM application isexecuted, the IM application 200 displays the combined message displaywindow of the interlocutor AAA, as shown in FIG. 10A. In the combinedmessage display window of the interlocutor AAA, the last transmittedSMS/MMS message is displayed, and thus, an informing section 1003informing of the current transmission technique displays the SMS/MMS. InFIG. 10A, when the informing section 1003 displaying the SMS/MMS isselected by the user, the IM application 200 informs that the currenttransmission technique is changed to IM by displaying IM instead ofSMS/MMS in the informing section 1003, as shown in FIG. 10B. When theinforming section 1003 displaying IM as shown in FIG. 10B is selectedagain by the user, the IM application 200 informs that the currenttransmission technique is changed to SMS/MMS by displaying SMS/MMSinstead of IM in the informing section 1003, as shown in FIG. 10A. Awritten message is provided in message section 1001, and transmission ofthe written message is enabled when a user selects transmission section1002.

Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, when the interlocutor AAA is selectedwhile the IM application is executed, the IM application 200 displaysthe combined message display window of the interlocutor AAA, as shown inFIG. 11A. In the combined message display window of the interlocutorAAA, the last transmitted SMS/MMS message is displayed, and thus, aninforming section 1103 informing of the current transmission techniquedisplays SMS/MMS. When a previously received and/or transmitted IM orSMS message is selected in the combined message display window of theinterlocutor AAA, the IM application 200 displays the types of messagetransmission techniques that correspond to the contact information ofthe interlocutor AAA. As shown in FIG. 11A, a touch 1100 is input to apreviously received and/or transmitted IM in the combined messagedisplay window of the interlocutor AAA. The IM application 200 displaysa pop-up window 1200 that includes types of message transmissiontechniques corresponding to the contact information, i.e., 010-111-1111,010-222-2222 and AAA@xxx.com, of the interlocutor AAA. When the IM isselected from the pop-up window 1200, the IM application 200 informsthat the current transmission manner is changed from SMS/MMS to IM bychanging SMS/MMS to IM in the informing section 1103 of the combinedmessage display window. A written message is provided in message section1101, and transmission of the written message is enabled when a userselects transmission section 1102.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, the IM application is executed, in step 1201. TheIM application 200 displays the combined message display window of theinterlocutor selected from among the plurality of contact information(i.e., the buddy list) or the combined message display window selectedfrom among the message display window list (i.e., the chat room), instep 1203.

In step 1205, it is determined whether a written message is requested tobe transmitted as an IM. When the written message is requested to betransmitted as an IM, the IM application 200 transmits the IM to theserver through the IM transmission module 201, in step 1207. In step1209, it is determined whether information is received from the serverindicating that the interlocutor is in an off state. When theinformation is received, the IM application 200 displays a messagerecommending that the written message be transmitted as an SMS/MMSmessage since the IM transmission is impossible, in step 1211. In step1213, it is determined whether the written message is requested to betransmitted as an SMS/MMS message. When the written message is requestedto be transmitted as an SMS/MMS message, the IM application transmitsthe message to the SMS/MMS DB 252 to store the message in the SMS/MMS DB252, and transmits the written message as an SMS/MMS message through theSMS/MMS module 251, in step 1215.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a message processing operation in anelectronic device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13, the IM application is executed, in step 1301. TheIM application 200 displays the combined message display window of theinterlocutor selected from among the plurality of contact information(i.e. the buddy list) or the combined message display window selectedfrom among the message display window list (i.e. the chat room), in step1303.

The IM application 200 determines whether the IM application 200 deletesa specific SMS/MMS message in the combined message display window, instep 1305. In the combined message display window, the previouslyreceived and/or transmitted IM provided from the IM DB 202 and thepreviously received and/or transmitted SMS/MMS message provided from theSMS/MMS DB 252 are arranged and displayed according to the timesequence. When the deletion of the specific SMS/MMS message displayed inthe combined message display window is selected, the IM application 200deletes the specific SMS/MMS message, in step 1307. The IM application200 deletes the specific SMS/MMS message by requesting the deletion ofthe specific SMS/MMS message to the SMS/MMS DB 252.

The described component elements of an electronic device, according toan embodiment of the present invention, may be formed of one or morecomponents, and a name of a corresponding component element may bechanged based on a type of electronic device. An electronic device,according to an embodiment of the present invention, may be formed toinclude at least one of the described component elements, and a fewcomponent elements may be omitted or additional component elements maybe further included. Also, some of the components of the electronicdevice, according to an embodiment of the present invention, may becombined to form a single entity, and thus, may execute functionsequivalent to the corresponding components before being combined.

The term “module”, as used in various embodiments of the presentinvention, may refer to, for example, a “unit” including one ofhardware, software, and firmware, or a combination of two or more of thehardware, software, and firmware. The term “module” may beinterchangeably used with, for example, the term “unit”, “logic”,“logical block”, “component”, or “circuit”. The “module” may be aminimum unit of an integrated component element or a part thereof. The“module” may be a minimum unit for performing one or more functions or apart thereof. The “module” may be mechanically or electronicallyimplemented. For example, the “module”, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, may include at least one of anApplication-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip, aField-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and a programmable-logic devicefor performing operations.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least part of adevice (for example, modules or functions thereof) or a method (forexample, operations) may be embodied by, for example, an instructionstored in a computer readable storage medium provided in a form of aprogramming module. When a command is executed by one or more processors(for example, the processor 120), the one or more processors may executea function corresponding to the command. The computer-readable storagemedium may be, for example, the memory 130. At least a part of theprogramming module may be implemented (for example, executed) by, forexample, the processor 120. At least a part of the programming modulemay include, for example, a module, a program, a routine, a set ofinstructions and/or a process for performing one or more functions.

The computer-readable recording medium may include magnetic media suchas, for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape,optical media such as, for example, a Compact Disc Read Only Memory(CD-ROM) and a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), magneto-optical media suchas, for example, a floptical disk, and hardware devices speciallyconfigured to store and perform a program instruction (for example,programming module), such as, for example, a Read Only Memory (ROM), aRandom Access Memory (RAM), a flash memory and the like. In addition,the program instructions may include high class language codes, whichcan be executed in a computer by using an interpreter, as well asmachine codes made by a compiler. The aforementioned hardware device maybe configured to operate as one or more software modules in order toperform the operation of various embodiments of the present invention,and vice versa.

A programming module, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, may include at least one of the described component elements,a few of the component elements may be omitted, or additional componentelements may be included. Operations executed by a module, a programmingmodule, or other component elements, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, may be executed sequentially, in parallel,repeatedly, or in a heuristic manner. Further, some operations may beexecuted according to another order or may be omitted, or otheroperations may be added.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a storage-mediumstoring instructions, the instructions are set to enable at least oneprocessor to perform at least one operation when the instructions areexecuted by the at least one processor. The at least one operation mayinclude executing a first message application, which displays a firstmessage and a second message, received and/or transmitted through thefirst message application and a second message application, in acombined message display window of an interlocutor, and executing asecond message application that provides the second message to the firstmessage application while the first message application is executed, inan electronic device (e.g., the electronic device 101).

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a transceiver; amemory configured to store messages received or transmitted by thetransceiver; a touch screen configured to display the received ortransmitted messages; and a processor coupled to the memory, the touchscreen, and the transceiver, the processor configured to: obtain, viathe transceiver, a first message associated with a first messageapplication, obtain, via the transceiver, a second message associatedwith a second message application, which is different from the firstmessage application, control the touch screen to display the obtainedfirst message on a message display window, and control the touch screento display the obtained second message adjacent to the obtained firstmessage on the message display window.
 2. The electronic device of claim1, wherein the processor is further configured to: control the firstmessage application to store the first message, request a provision ofthe second message to the second message application, and store aplurality of interlocutors, each of the plurality of interlocutorshaving a plurality of contact information including first contactinformation for at least one of receiving and transmitting the firstmessage and second contact information for at least one of receiving andtransmitting the second message, and control the second messageapplication to store the second message, and provide the second messageto the first message application according to the request of the firstmessage application.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: control the first messageapplication to detect the first message obtained corresponding to firstcontact information from among a plurality of contact information of aninterlocutor, receive, from the second application, the second messageobtained corresponding to second contact information from among theplurality of contact information of the interlocutor, and display thefirst message and the second message in-on the message display window ofthe interlocutor according to a time sequence, and wherein the pluralityof contact information of the interlocutor includes at least one ofaddress information, at least one telephone number, and an emailaddress.
 4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: display a plurality of message transmissiontechniques, and when a message transmission technique is selected fromamong a plurality of message transmission techniques, set the selectedmessage transmission technique for the message display window of aninterlocutor and display the selected message transmission technique onthe message display window of the interlocutor.
 5. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, when messagedisplay window list viewing is selected, control the first messageapplication to arrange a message display window list according to a timesequence and display the message display window list.
 6. The electronicdevice of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to, whena new second message is received while the message display window listis displayed, change a position of a message display windowcorresponding to a sender of the new second message, and display themessage display window corresponding to the sender of the new secondmessage in the message display window list.
 7. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: when a firsttransmission technique of the first message application is selected,transmit a written message as the first message, and when a secondtransmission technique of the second message application is selected,transmit the written message as the second message, while the messagedisplay window is displayed, wherein the first message application andthe second message application have different message reception andtransmission techniques.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe processor is further configured to, while the message display windowis displayed, and when information is received from a server informingthat an interlocutor may not receive a message in a first transmissiontechnique of the first message application in response to transmissionof a written message to the interlocutor by the first messageapplication, inform of an impossibility of the transmission of the firstmessage and display a message recommending a transmission of the writtenmessage using a second transmission technique of the second messageapplication.
 9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the firstmessage application includes an Instant Message (IM) application, andwherein the second message application includes a Short MessageService/Multimedia Messaging Service (SMS/MMS) application.
 10. A methodof processing a message in an electronic device, the method comprising:obtaining, via a transceiver, a first message associated with a firstmessage application; obtaining, via the transceiver, a second messageassociated with a second message application, which is different fromthe first message application; controlling a touch screen to display theobtained first message on a message display window; and controlling thetouch screen to display the obtained second message adjacent to theobtained first message on the message display window.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the first message application stores the firstmessage, requests a provision of the second message to the secondmessage application, and stores a plurality of interlocutors, each ofthe plurality of interlocutors having a plurality of contact informationincluding first contact information for at least one of receiving andtransmitting the first message and second contact information for atleast one of receiving and transmitting the second message, and whereinthe second message application stores the second message, and providesthe second message to the first message application according to therequest of the first message application.
 12. The method of claim 10,further comprising: detecting the first message obtained correspondingto first contact information from among a plurality of contactinformation of an interlocutor, receiving the second message obtainedcorresponding to second contact information from among the plurality ofcontact information of the interlocutor from the second messageapplication; and displaying the first message and the second messagein-on the message display window of the interlocutor according to a timesequence, wherein the plurality of contact information of theinterlocutor includes at least one of address information, at least onetelephone number and an email address.
 13. The method of claim 10,further comprising: displaying a plurality of message transmissiontechniques by the first message application; and setting a messagetransmission technique for the message display window of an interlocutorand displaying the message transmission technique iii-on the messagedisplay window of the interlocutor, when the message transmissiontechnique is selected from among the plurality of message transmissiontechniques.
 14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: arranging amessage display window list according to a time sequence, and displayingthe message display window list, when message display window listviewing is selected.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:changing a position of a message display window corresponding to asender of a new second message and displaying the message display windowcorresponding to the sender of the new second message in the messagedisplay window list, when the new second message is received while themessage display window list is displayed.
 16. The method of claim 10,further comprising: transmitting a written message as the first message,when a first transmission technique of the first message application isselected; and transmitting the written message as the second message,when a second transmission manner of the second message application isselected while the message display window is displayed, wherein thefirst message application and the second message application havedifferent message reception and transmission techniques.
 17. The methodof claim 10, further comprising: informing of an impossibility of atransmission of the first message and displaying a message recommendinga transmission of a written message using a second message transmissiontechnique of the second message application, when information isreceived from a server informing that an interlocutor may not receivethe written message in response to the transmission of the writtenmessage to the interlocutor in a first message transmission technique ofthe first message application, while the message display window isdisplayed.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising: requestingthat the second message application delete the selected second message,by the first message application, when deletion of the second message,which is displayed in the message display window, is selected.
 19. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the first message application includes anInstant Message (IM) application, and the second message applicationincludes a Short Message Service/Multimedia Messaging Service (SMS/MMS)application.
 20. An article of manufacture for processing a message inan electronic device, comprising a non-transitory machine readablemedium containing one or more programs, which when executed, implementthe steps of: obtaining a first message by a first message application;obtaining a second message by a second message application, which isdifferent from the first message application; and displaying the firstmessage and the second message on a message display window, wherein thefirst message application is different from the second messageapplication.